Dental Implant

ABSTRACT

A dental implant that facilitate insertion and can be used in all bone types. The implant includes a body having a coronal end, and an apical end opposite the coronal end. A tapered region may be adjacent the apical end. On the apical part one or more taps are provided so the tap is cutting when rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise. The implant can have at least one variable profile helical thread that extends along the tapered region. The implant can have also micro-threads below the main threads, a gradual compressing tapered core, a self drilling apical end and a narrow coronal region.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disclosures herein relate generally to bone anchorage implants andmore particularly to a screw form dental implant having a combination offeatures designed to produce bone condensation while insertion is easy.

Many current screw-form dental implants are well designed for use indense bone. The osseous anatomy of the human jaw is complex. While thedensity of the bone in the anterior regions of the mandible and maxillais high, the posterior regions, particularly in the maxilla, are ofsignificantly lower density. The height of the bony ridge in theposterior maxilla can be greatly reduced in partially or totallyedentulous patients. This can lead to the need for use of shorter dentalimplants or grafting procedures in order to increase the height of boneavailable for implant placement.

Dental implant stability in low-density bone, such as that found in theposterior regions of the mandible and maxilla or/and in regeneratedbone, can be difficult to achieve. Compaction of low density bone, suchas by the use of osteotomes, is commonly performed in order to enhancethe stability of implants at the time of surgical placement.

Implants of various tapers and with various thread profiles are known inthe art in order to induce bone compression at the coronal aspect of theimplant, i.e. at its widest end. The compression of the bone leads toincreased stability of the implant.

As an implant is designed to be more condensing its insertion becomesmore difficult. It is also more difficult to control the position of theimplant since a condensing implant has a stronger tendency to slip intoa region with the lowest bone density.

Most of the dental-implant manufactures have several types of implants.They sell implants for soft bone, implants for regular bone and implantsfor dense bone. Therefore these companies and the dentists need to havelarge stocks of implants and to learn how and when to use each type ofimplant.

Therefore, what is needed is an implant that can be suitable for allbone types. An implant that enhances stability in low density bone suchas that found in the posterior mandible and the posterior maxilla but iseasily inserted and can be used also in regular bone and in dense bone.Another advantage for this implant can be that the implant will keep itspath of insertion and will not slip towards regions with low bonedensity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention describes a skeletal screw that can be used in soft boneor/and dense bone. The following description will focus on dentalimplants but all the details can be implemented also in orthopedics forother regions of the body. Some embodiments, accordingly, provide adental implant that is particularly suited for use in lower density bonebut can be used also in high density bone. In one preferred embodiment adental implant having at least one variable profile thread, the implantincludes a body having a coronal end and an apical end. The bodyincludes a tapered core adjacent the apical end. In some embodiments thecore is not forming a straight line in cross section. One option is thatthe core is like a circular osteotome so the difference between thediameter of the core just coronally to a thread and the diameter of thecore just apically to this thread is smaller compared to a regulartapered implant with the same angle of tapering. The implant can alsoinclude a variable width helical thread that extends along the taperedcore. The thread has an apical side, a coronal side, a lateral edge anda base touching the core of the implant. A height defined between thelateral edge and the base touching the core. The width is defined by thelength of the lateral edge. In one preferred embodiment the variablewidth is expanded in the direction of the coronal end. As a result, theleast width of the thread is adjacent the apical end and the greatestwidth of the thread is adjacent the coronal end. The variable height isexpanded in the direction of the apical end. As a result, the leastheight of the thread is adjacent the coronal end and the greatest heightof the thread is adjacent the apical end. The implant can have more thanone thread running along the implant. For example in one embodiment ofthe novel implant one thread can be suitable for dense bone and a secondthread can be suitable for soft bone. The implant can have two cones onefor the outer surface of the threads and the second for the innersurface of the threads meaning the core. In a preferred embodiment theangle of the first cone is smaller than the angle of the second cone.The implant can have more than two cones. In a preferred embodiment thenovel implant has two threads that can be different. In this embodimentit is also possible that the core below one thread can be different fromthe core below the second thread. For example one core can be suitablefor dense bone and a second core can be suitable for soft bone Thedifference between these core segments can be for example in their angleor/and external morphology. The implant can also have a spiral bone tap.In some embodiments the implant can have more than one bone tap. In someof these embodiments the bone taps of the novel implant are notidentical. For example one bone tap can be cutting therefore suitablefor dense bone and a second bone tap can be compressing and thereforesuitable for soft bone.

The coronal region can have several configurations. A coronally taperingcoronal region or/and an inversed tapered coronal region or/and aparallel wall coronal region. In some embodiments of the novel implantthe coronal region is not identical all around. The coronal region canhave parallel walls at its buccal and palatal aspects and inversedtapered coronal region at its mesial and distal aspects. With thisconfiguration the implant is suitable for soft bone because of itsparallel aspect and for dense bone because of its inversed taperedaspect. The dentist can decide where to position the parallel aspect andwhere to position the inversed tapered aspect. If the alveolar ridge isnarrow it is recommended to position the inversed tapered region facingthe buccal aspect. If the mesio-distal dimension is limited it isrecommended to place the inversed tapered region facing the mesio and/ordistal aspect. With this configuration a cross section of the coronalregion perpendicular to the long axis of the implant is creating forexample an elliptic outline instead of a round outline. The novelcoronal region can have different tapering at different aspects of thecoronal region. For example to have a parallel wall (parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the implant) on one aspect, a coronally taperedregion on another aspect and an inversed tapered region in anotheraspect of the coronal region. The distribution of different taperingaround the coronal region can be different at different vertical heightsalong the coronal region. The coronal region can have micro slots. Theseslots can be circular along the same horizontal plane or to be alongseveral vertical heights.

One advantage of this embodiment is that a dental implant is providedthat addresses the problems described above. It has a unique combinationof an implant body, threads profile, core profile, taps and coronalaspect that enhances stability in low-density bone but the insertion iseasily done and the implant can be used also in dense bone with theappropriate surgical protocol and the direction of the implant isdictated by the high apical threads that prevent slipping of theimplant.

The narrow coronal region or/and the coronal inversed tapered region ofthe implant (converging coronaly) is best to be placed below the bonelevel and the bone is touching or/and covering this region because theimplant is designed to allow insertion with a small diameter drillor/and osteotom to allow elastic expansion of the cortical bone. Thepresence of bone above the implant supports the gums to achieve anesthetic result. In some preferred embodiments the implant is aone-piece implant. There are also provided several novel prostheticsystems that fit the new implant but can be also used for otherimplants.

Thus according to the teaching of the present invention there isprovided A dental implant comprising: a body; a coronal part of thebody; an apical part of the body; the apical part having at least twotaps extending from the apical end of the apical part coronally, atleast part of the right edge of the first tap is creating a first bluntangle with the external surface of the apical part and at least part ofthe left edge of the second tap is creating a second blunt angle withthe external surface of the apical part.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least part ofthe right edge of the first tap is creating a first sharp angle or 90degrees with the external surface of the apical part and at least partof the left edge of the second tap is creating a second sharp angle or90 degrees with the external surface of the apical part.

According to a further feature of the present invention the first tap isa spiral tap, the spiral first tap extends from one side of the implantto the opposite side along more than a third of the length of theimplant.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second tapis a spiral tap, the spiral second tap extends from one side of theimplant to the opposite side along more than a third of the length ofthe implant.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second tapis a spiral tap, the spiral second tap extends from one side of theimplant to the opposite side along more than a third of the length ofthe implant.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least part ofthe left edge of the first tap is creating a blunt angle with theexternal surface of the apical part.

According to a further feature of the present invention the first taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is larger than 90 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is larger than 90 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is equal or smaller than 90degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is larger than 90 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention the second taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is equal or smaller than 90degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention the first taphas two surfaces that the angle between them is equal or smaller than 90degrees and the second tap has two surfaces that the angle between themis equal or smaller than 90 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps has two surfaces which are connected through a rounded zone.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps has more than two surfaces.

According to a further feature of the present invention the taps areconnected with each other by a slot in the apex of the implant.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps is oriented to the right as extending from the apical part tothe coronal part.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps is oriented to the left as extending from the apical part tothe coronal part.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps is extended straight upwards from the apical part to thecoronal part.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps is wider in its apical region more than in its coronal region.

According to a further feature of the present invention at least one ofthe taps is wider in its coronal region more than in its apical region.

According to a further feature of the present invention the width of atleast one of the taps is substantially constant while extending from theapical part to the coronal part.

According to a further feature of the present invention the first bluntangle and the second blunt angles are located substantially at the samedistance from the apical end of the implant.

According to a further feature of the present invention the most apicalpart of the implant is more tapered than the apical part above the mostapical part.

According to a further feature of the present invention the length ofthe most apical part is 2-6 mm.

According to a further feature of the present invention the length ofthe most apical part is 3-5 mm.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical parthaving a tapered core with helical tapered thread extending along thetapered core.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical partincludes at least one segment having a tapered variable profile mainhelical thread extending along the core, the main thread having anapical side, a coronal side, a lateral edge connecting the apical sideand the coronal side, a base touching the core, a height defined betweenthe lateral edge and the base, a variable length of the lateral edgebeing progressively expanded substantially along the segment of theapical part in the direction of the coronal part, so that a least lengthof the lateral edge of the main thread is adjacent the apical end and agreatest length of the lateral edge of the main thread is adjacent thecoronal part, and a variable height being progressively expandedsubstantially along the segment of the implant in the direction of theapical end, so that a least height of the main thread is adjacent thecoronal part and a greatest height of the main thread is adjacent theapical end.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical sideof the main thread includes a flat shelf and the width of the mainthread is further defined by a circumferential face extending betweenthe apical side and the coronal side.

According to a further feature of the present invention thecircumferential face has a flat face substantially perpendicular to theflat shelf and wherein the flat face has a width that progressivelyexpands from the apical end toward the coronal part.

According to a further feature of the present invention the flat facenarrows at the apical end and becomes sharp and thin.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical endincludes a rounded region.

According to a further feature of the present invention the main threadadjacent the apical end is self-tapping.

According to a further feature of the present invention the self-tappingthread is spaced from the rounded region.

According to a further feature of the present invention the body of theimplant is tapered and wherein the main thread adjacent the apical endis self-tapping and adapted to cut bone.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical partincludes at least one segment having a second helical thread extendingalong the core.

According to a further feature of the present invention the secondhelical thread has substantially a constant profile.

According to a further feature of the present invention the secondhelical thread being a tapered variable profile helical thread extendingalong the core, the second thread having an apical side, a coronal side,a lateral edge connecting the apical side and the coronal side, a basetouching the core, a height defined between the lateral edge and thebase, a variable length of the lateral edge being progressively expandedsubstantially along the segment of the apical part in the direction ofthe coronal part, so that a least length of the lateral edge of thesecond thread is adjacent the apical end and a greatest length of thelateral edge of the second thread is adjacent the coronal part, and avariable height being progressively expanded substantially along thesegment of the implant in the direction of the apical end, so that aleast height of the second thread is adjacent the coronal part and agreatest height of the second thread is adjacent the apical end.

According to a further feature of the present invention the length ofthe main helical thread being more progressively expanded than thesecond helical thread.

According to a further feature of the present invention the height ofthe main helical thread being more progressively expanded than thesecond helical thread.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the diameter ofthe most coronal segment of the coronal part being smaller than thediameter of the coronal part just below the most coronal segment.

According to a further feature of the present invention the most coronalsegment of the coronal part is tapered coronally forming narrowercoronal edge.

According to a further feature of the present invention the most coronalsegment of the coronal part has at least one coronal aspect havingparallel external walls, the diameter of the coronal aspect is smallerthan the diameter of the coronal part just below the aspect.

According to a further feature of the present invention the most coronalsegment has a surface designed to be in contact with bone.

According to a further feature of the present invention the most coronalsegment is designed to allow elastic expansion of the bone whileinserting the implant inside the bone and after insertion of the mostcoronal segment the bone relapses to touch the most coronal segment.

According to a further feature of the present invention the implant hasmore than two threads.

According to a further feature of the present invention the threadsreach the most coronal segment.

According to a further feature of the present invention the implant hasmicro-threads on the most coronal segment which are smaller than thethreads over the apical part.

According to a further feature of the present invention below of atleast one of the helical threads there is a micro-thread, the horizontallength of the micro-thread is 0.05-0.3 mm and the horizontal length ofthe helical thread at the most apical region is 0.5-1 mm.

According to a further feature of the present invention the horizontallength of the micro-thread is less than 0.2 mm and the horizontal lengthof the helical thread at the most apical region is more than 0.6 mm.

According to a further feature of the present invention below the mainhelical thread there are more than one micro-threads and below thesecond helical thread there are more than one micro-threads.

According to a further feature of the present invention the profile ofat least one of the micro-threads is different from the profile ofanother of the micro-threads.

According to a further feature of the present invention the implantincludes a protruding element configured to protrude through the gums toallow the connection to a dental prosthesis.

According to a further feature of the present invention the protrudingelement and the implant are one piece.

According to a further feature of the present invention the protrudingelement includes at least one region with an anti-rotational element.

According to a further feature of the present invention the protrudingelement is tapered coronally.

According to a further feature of the present invention the implant isconnected to a prosthetic element, the prosthetic element can be anypart of the group consisting of: abutment for cementation, abutment forscrewed restoration, temporary abutment, dolder-bar, ball-attachment,connector, locator, crown, bridge, impression coping, healing cap, andany combination thereof.

According to a further feature of the present invention the apical endhaving a tapered core with helical thread extending along the taperedcore, the apical end includes at least one region having coronal threadwhich is coronal to a coronal core segment which is coronal to an apicalthread which is coronal to an apical core segment, the region isdesigned so when the most apical aspect of the border of the coronalcore segment is continued by an imaginary straight line apically throughthe apical thread the line will be inside the apical core segment.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the borders ofthe core segments are forming parallel lines.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the borders ofthe core segments are not straight lines.

According to a further feature of the present invention, wherein thelateral edge is parallel to the long axis of the implant.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention a dental implant comprising: a body; a coronal end of thebody; an apical end of the body; the apical end having a tapered corewith helical tapered thread extending along the tapered core, the apicalend includes at least one region where the angle of the tapered core islarger than the angle of the helical tapered thread.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the apical endhaving coronal thread which is coronal to a coronal core segment whichis coronal to an apical thread which is coronal to an apical coresegment, the region is designed so when the most apical aspect of theborder of the coronal core segment is continued by an imaginary straightline apically through the apical thread the line will be inside theapical core segment.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the coronallytapered aspect is designed to allow elastic expansion of the bone whileinserting the wider area of the coronally tapered aspect inside the boneand after insertion of the narrow area of the coronally tapered aspectthe bone relapses to cover the coronally tapered aspect.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the implant hasmore than one thread.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the threadsreach the coronally tapered aspect.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the implant hasthreads on the coronally tapered region.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the protrudingelement is designed to get a wider collar that mimics the emergenceprofile of a natural tooth.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the protrudingelement is configured to be attached to an abutment from the side.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention a dental implant comprising: a body; a coronal part of thebody; an apical part of the body; said apical part includes an apicalsegment adjacent the apical end of said implant extending along onethird of the length of said implant, said apical segment comprising atapered core with a first external thread extending along said taperedcore and a second external thread extending along said tapered core,said first thread having a first profile, said first profile beingtapered variable profile, said first thread having an apical side, acoronal side, a lateral edge connecting said apical side and saidcoronal side, a base touching said core, a height defined between saidlateral edge and said base, a variable length of said lateral edge beingprogressively expanded substantially along said apical segment of saidapical part in the direction of said coronal part, so that a leastlength of said lateral edge of said first thread is adjacent said apicalend and a greatest length of said lateral edge of said first thread isadjacent said coronal part, and a variable height being progressivelyexpanded substantially along said apical segment of said implant in thedirection of said apical end, so that a least height of said firstthread is adjacent said coronal part and a greatest height of said firstthread is adjacent said apical end, said second thread having an apicalside of said second thread, a coronal side of said second thread, alateral edge of said second thread connecting said apical side of saidsecond thread and said coronal side of said second thread, a base ofsaid second thread touching said core, a height of said second threaddefined between said lateral edge of said second thread and said base ofsaid second thread, said first thread having a first thread step, saidsecond thread having a second thread step and a second thread profile,said first thread step being substantially equal to said second threadstep, said first tapered thread profile being different from said secondthread profile so said length of said lateral edge of said first threadadjacent the coronal end of said apical segment being larger than thelength of said lateral edge of said second thread adjacent the coronalend of said apical segment.

There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention a dental implant comprising: a body; a coronal part of thebody; an apical part of the body;

said apical part having a lateral external surface, a first tap and asecond tap extending along at least part of said apical part, when saidcoronal part being placed upwards and said first tap being viewed alongsaid apical part at least part of a right edge of said first tap iscreating a first angle with said external surface of said apical partand at least part of a left edge of said first tap is creating a secondangle with said external surface of said apical part, said first anglebeing equal or smaller than 90 degrees, said second angle being largerthan 90 degrees, when said coronal part being placed upwards and saidsecond tap being viewed along said apical part at least part of a leftedge of said second tap is creating a third angle with said externalsurface of said apical part and at least part of a right edge of saidsecond tap is creating a fourth angle with said external surface of saidapical part, said third angle being equal or smaller than 90 degrees,said fourth angle being larger than 90.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the firstand/or the third angle are 20-85 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the firstand/or the third angle are 30-80 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the firstand/or the third angle are 40-70 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the firstand/or the third angle are 45-65 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the secondand/or the fourth angle are 91-170 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the secondand/or the fourth angle are 100-160 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the secondand/or the fourth angle are 110-150 degrees.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the secondand/or the fourth angle are 120-140 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of a dentalimplant of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a regular tapered dentalimplant.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of a dentalimplant of the present invention having two types a gradual condensingcore segments.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a dentalimplant of the present invention illustrating two different variablethreads.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the novel implant having two tapersof the apical region.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the novel implantwith a rounded core segments and a double hex connection to an abutment.

FIG. 6A is a side elevation view of an abutment with a tapered antirotational connection fitted to be installed over the implant of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view illustrating another embodiment of adental implant of the present invention with micro-threads along thecore of the implant.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of theimplant of FIG. 7 with a variable narrow coronal region.

FIG. 9 is a bottom elevation view illustrating an embodiment of theapical blades.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of a dentalimplant of the present invention with a cutting tap.

FIG. 11A is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of a dentalimplant of the present invention with a condensing tap.

FIG. 11B is a horizontal sectional view through the apical segment of anembodiment of an implant having a cutting tap and a condensing tap.

FIG. 12 is a side-bottom elevation view illustrating another embodimentof a dental implant of the present invention having two taps which areconnected with a slot at the apex of the implant.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation view illustrating another embodiment of adental implant of the present invention with an inversed tapered coronalregion.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view illustrating another embodiment of adental implant with a narrow parallel walls coronal region.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view illustrating another embodiment of adental implant with a narrow parallel walls coronal region having acircular micro-slot.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of aone-piece dental implant.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view illustrating an embodiment of aone-piece dental implant having a circular micro-slot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the novel tapered condensing dentalimplant. There are several elements in a dental implant that influencethe condensation, insertion and stabilization of the implant, including:

1) The core of the implant 1.

2) The Threads 2.

3) The most apical region 3 which touches the bone first.

4) The bone tap 4.

5) The most coronal region 5 which engages the cortical bone and thesometimes also the gums.

In order to have good stabilization in low density bone it isrecommended to use a small diameter drill and a tapered implant. As thediameter of the drill is smaller and the implant is more tapered thebone is more preserved and more condensed resulting in improvedstabilization, but the insertion is more difficult. In this casecontrolling the exact path of insertion of the implant becomes also moredifficult since the implant has a tendency to slip towards the regionwith the lowest density. In order to use a small diameter drill and animplant with significant tapered configuration all five elements of theimplant are recommended to be designed in harmony between them to allowan easy insertion and good control on the final position of the implant.

In order to clarify the novelty of the new implant it will be comparedto a regular tapered implant like the implant illustrated in FIG. 2. Theimplant has a coronal end 12 and an apical end 14. The implant has fivedistinct regions. At the most coronal aspect there is animplant-prosthetic interface region 16. Moving from the coronal to theapical ends the implant can have an optional mechanical stop region (notshown), an optional cylindrical region (not shown), a tapered region 22,and a bone cutting end region 24 which is self drilling and selftapping. An internal threaded portion 25 is provided for the attachmentof prosthetic components.

The interface region 16 provides mechanical interlock between theimplant and the prosthetic components (not shown) attached to theimplant. Interface region 16 also provides a means of applying torque tothe implant and thus driving the implant into the selected site. Theinterface region 16 can be any of a number of known interfaces,including external splines or/and internal geometric shapes such aspolygons or Morse tapers.

The optional mechanical stop region can be sharply tapered so that whenthe implant is screwed into a prepared osteotomy, the stop limitsinadvertently placing the implant too deeply. The implant of FIG. 2 hasa uniform thread 26 extending along the body of the implant.

In one embodiment of the implant of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 3 there are two different threads 30, 31. The tapered region 33 ofFIG. 3 has on its external surfaces one thread 30 with a variable threadprofile. The external thread 30 includes a progressively changingprofile. At the apical end 3, the thread 30 is sharp narrow and longhorizontally in order to facilitate cutting and self-tapping into bone.As the thread 30 progresses towards the implant coronal end 5, its tipbecomes increasingly broad or wider in the apical-coronal direction andincreasingly lower in the horizontal direction in cross-sectionalprofile. The increasing breadth of thread 30 facilitates compression oflow-density bone previously tapped by the sharp apical thread profile.Bone compression increases the stability of the implant. The decreasingheight allows easy insertion and dictates that the implant will keep itsfirst direction while it is inserted. As the thread 30 progresses fromcoronal to apical ends, 5 and 3 respectively, of the implant, the thread30 becomes sharper, thinner and horizontally longer. Thread 30 isprofiled so that a path cut in the bone is gradually broadened bycompression due to the progressively broader thread 30 (verticallybroader). In this embodiment the threads are tapered and the core ismore tapered resulting in horizontally long threads at the apicalregion.

Compressive threads are suitable for soft bone. If both threads arecompressive and become wider coronaly it will be difficult to insert theimplant in dense bone unless the drilling is changed significantly.Therefore in the second thread 31 the vertical height can be increasedless in the coronal region or/and to be uniform or/and can be sharp toallow easy insertion. The combination of a compressive thread and lesscompressive or/and uniform thread makes the implant to be suitable forseveral bone types. This configuration is suitable also for very densebone. In highly dense bone sometimes the blood supply is compromisedresulting in implant failure. The novel implant of FIG. 3 has high andspaced threads leaving spaces between them after insertion into densebone following drilling with a wide drill. These spaces will promoteblood vessels proliferation and bone regeneration.

FIG. 4 illustrates in a cross-sectional view an embodiment of a variableprofile thread 30. Each turn T of thread 30 is of a different profilefrom each other turn T of thread 30 along at least part of the implant.For example, the implant includes a plurality of turns T.sub.1, T.sub.2,T.sub.3, . . . T.sub.N. Each turn T includes an apical side A and acoronal side C and flat face F connecting A and C. The length of Fvaries by being continuously expanded in the direction of the coronalend 5. The length of A and C varies by being continuously expanded inthe direction of the apical end 3.

As such, a first turn T.sub.1, includes an apical side A.sub.1, acoronal side C.sub.1, and F.sub.1. A second turn T.sub.2 includes anapical side A.sub.2, a coronal side C.sub.2, and a F.sub.2. The samepattern is repeated for turns T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3, . . . T.sub.N.so that a least length F.sub.1, of the thread 30 is adjacent the apicalend 3, and a greatest length F.sub.N is adjacent the coronal end 5. Theleast length A.sub.N, of the thread 30 is adjacent the coronal end 5,and a greatest length A.sub.1 is adjacent the apical end 3. The leastlength C.sub.N, of the thread 30 is adjacent the coronal end 5, and agreatest length C.sub.1 is adjacent the apical end 3. The apical side ofthe thread (A1,2,3 . . . ) can be a flat shelf perpendicular to the longaxis 9 of the implant or/and with a non 90 degrees angle to the longaxis of the implant as illustrated in FIG. 4 or/and with combination ofmore than one angle. In addition, the external thread 30 may have a flatshelf (A1,2,3 . . . ) and rounded tip (F1,2,3 . . . ), which are mostpronounced at the thread's coronal end 5. The flat shelf providessupport against implant micro-motion imposed by axial loads,advantageous in low-density bone. The tip of the thread (F1,2,3 . . . )can be flat and/or rounded. The angle of each thread segment meaning theangle between A and C of FIG. 4 is about 60 degree in some implants. Toallow cutting of the bone a more sharp angle is preferred at 30-40or/and about 35 degree. In some preferred embodiments all the threadshave the same angle between A and C. In another preferred embodiment theangle between A and C is gradually increased coronally to get morecondensation for soft bone or gradually decreased coronally for densebone.

In the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, a circumferential face Fis included on some turns of thread 30. The face F can be flat on themore coronal threads or/and can be sharp on the self-tapping portion ofthe thread, adjacent the apical end 3, but is provided as each turnprogressively widens toward the coronal end 5. The face F can beparallel to the long axis 9 of the implant but it can be also angled.

The second thread 31 as illustrated in FIG. 4 is extending along theimplant in the spaces between the thread steps of the first thread 30.The vertical height of the second thread 31 can be changing lesscompared to the first thread 30 and can remain the same along at leastpart of the implant for example along most of the coronal part of theimplant. The horizontal dimension of the second thread 31 can beincreased in the apical direction so the thread 31 at the apical region3 is long and sharp and the thread 31 close to the coronal region 5 isshort and sharp. The angle of the second thread between the upper aspectD of the second thread 31 and the lower aspect E of the second thread 31can be 20-70 degrees or/and 25-45 degrees or/and 30-40 degrees or/andabout 35 degrees.

FIG. 4 illustrates the variable profile thread 31. Each turn T of thread31 is of a different profile from each other turn T of thread 31. Forexample, the implant includes a plurality of turns T.sub.1, T.sub.2,T.sub.3, . . . T.sub.N. Each turn T includes an apical side E and acoronal side D and flat face G connecting D and E. The length of Gvaries by being continuously expanded in the direction of the coronalend 5 or/and being constant. The length of D and E varies by beingcontinuously expanded in the direction of the apical end 3 or/and beingconstant.

As such, a first turn T.sub.1, includes an apical side D.sub.1, acoronal side E.sub.1, and G.sub.1. A second turn T.sub.2 includes anapical side D.sub.2, a coronal side E.sub.2, and a G.sub.2. The samepattern is repeated for turns T.sub.1, T.sub.2, T.sub.3, . . . T.sub.N.so that a least length G.sub.1, of the thread 31 is adjacent the apicalend 3, and a greatest length G.sub.N is adjacent the coronal end 5. Theleast length D.sub.N, of the thread 31 is adjacent the coronal end 5,and a greatest length D.sub.1 is adjacent the apical end 3. The leastlength E.sub.N, of the thread 31 is adjacent the coronal end 5, and agreatest length E.sub.1 is adjacent the apical end 3. The apical side ofthe thread can be a flat shelf perpendicular to the long axis 9 of theimplant or with a non 90 degrees angle to the long axis of the implantas illustrated in FIG. 4 or/and with combination of more than one angle.In addition, the external thread 31 may have a flat shelf or/and roundedtip, which are most pronounced at the thread's coronal end 5. The tip ofthe thread G can be flat or/and rounded or/and sharp. In someembodiments all the threads have the same angle between D and E. Inanother preferred embodiment the angle between D and E is graduallyincreased coronally to get more condensation for soft bone or graduallydecreased coronally for dense bone.

An implant with double thread each thread with a double step allowsinsertion in half the turns needed for an implant with one thread whilekeeping the outer surface and the stability of the implant. The implantcan have more than two threads.

In one embodiment the angle of the first thread 30 (between A and C) canbe the same as the angle of the second thread 31 (between D and E). Inanother embodiment the angle of the first thread 30 (between A and C)can be larger than the angle of the second thread 31 (between D and E).In another embodiment the angle of the first thread 30 (between A and C)can be smaller than the angle of the second thread 31 (between D and E).

In some of the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 a circumferentialfaces F and G is included on some turns of thread 30 and 31. The faces Fand G can be flat and can be sharp at the self-tapping portion of thethreads 30 and 31, adjacent the apical end 3, but are provided as eachturn progressively widens toward the coronal end 5. The faces F and Gcan be parallel to the long axis 9 of the implant but they can be alsoangled.

In one preferred embodiment along at least one segment of the implantthe difference between the vertical height of successive threads(F.sub.N−F.sub.N−1) of the first thread 30 is preferably larger than thedifference between the vertical height of successive threads(G.sub.N−G.sub.N−1) of the second thread 31. In another preferredembodiment at least along one segment of the implant the differencebetween the vertical height of successive threads (G.sub.N−G.sub.N−1) ofthe second thread 31 is zero or the vertical height of successivethreads of thread 31 are substantially equal. In another preferredembodiment the vertical height of the threads (G) of the second thread31 is becoming larger in the coronal direction along the apical segmentof the implant and afterwards remain constant along most of coronalsegment of the implant, whereas the vertical height (F) of the firstthread is increasing in the coronal direction along the apical segmentand/or also along most of the coronal segment of the implant. In thisconfiguration the implant has at least along a segment of the implant onone side of the implant a thread with a certain height F and on theother side of the implant substantially at the same vertical location 50a thread with a smaller height G as illustrated in FIG. 5. Also thehorizontal length of the threads 30, 31 of the implant substantially atthe same vertical location can be different. A subN can be larger than DsubN and/or C subN can be larger than E subN. Also the increase in thehorizontal length of the threads can be different for example (A subN−Asub N−1) can be larger than (E subN−E subN−1) or/and (C subN−C sub N−1)can be larger than (D subN−D subN−1)

The base of the thread where the thread is touching the core of theimplant can be of constant and/or equal height for both threads 30, 31or/and can be different for each thread or/and can be constant for eachthread but different. For example the vertical height of the base of thefirst thread can be constant along at least a segment of the implant andlarger than the vertical height of the base of the second thread whichis also constant along at least a segment of the implant.

In some preferred embodiments the horizontal length of the first threadcan be larger than the horizontal length of the second thread. Asillustrates in FIG. 5 the tips of the second thread don't reach the line23 connecting the tips of the first thread. In another preferredembodiment the length of both threads are substantially the same asillustrated in FIG. 4. It is also possible that the length of the secondthread is larger than the length of the first thread. In case that thelength of the threads is changing along the implant the length of thefirst thread is can be different than the length of the second thread inthe same vertical height, for example in FIG. 5 the length of the firstthread on the right side of the implant crossed by line 50 is largerthan the length of the second thread on the left side of the implantcrossed by line 50.

The length of the first or/and the second thread can be 0.4-1 mm or/and0.6-0.8 mm at the apical region and/or reduced in the coronal region toa length of 0.1-06 mm or/and 0.2-0.4 mm.

There are several embodiments of how the vertical height of the threadis increased. In one embodiment the vertical dimension of the thread(thread 30 in FIG. 3) is increased upwards and downwards relatively tothe previous thread, or in other words at least along part of theimplant the middle of a thread is at same distance from the middle ofthe thread before and from the middle of the thread afterward. Thisdistance is the thread step, so when the implant is inserted the boneabove and below the thread is compressed. In another embodiment thevertical height of the thread is increased more upwards than downwardrelatively to the previous thread to compress more the bone above thethread. In some embodiments the thread can be designed even to compressonly the bone above the thread. In another preferred embodiment along atleast part of the implant the vertical height of the thread is increasedmore downwards to compress more the bone bellow the thread than the boneabove the thread or even to compress only the bone below the thread.This last embodiment is preferred for most biological conditions sincethe upper region of the bone are usually denser than the lower regionand is better to compress the softer bone than to compress the denserbone. In these embodiments the distance between the middle of successivethreads along at least part of the implant can be constant (the threadstep) or/and increasing towards the apical region or/and increasingtowards the coronal region. In some embodiments the distance between themiddle of successive threads along at least part of the implant can beconstant (the thread step) or/and increasing towards the apical regionand along at least another part of the implant increasing towards thecoronal region. In another preferred embodiment the vertical height ofthe threads along the apical segment of the implant are increasingupwards and downwards and the vertical height of the threads along thecoronal segment of the implant are increasing more downwards or onlydownwards because the bone in the coronal region includes the densecortical bone and the bone in the apical region has basically softspongious bone.

The length of the apical segment can be about 5 mm and in some cases 2-4mm. The length of the apical segment can be a fixed length for allimplant lengths or it can be one quarter to one third of the implantlength.

This variable change in the direction of the increase of the verticalheight of the thread can be applied to the first thread 30 alone or toboth threads in case the vertical height of the second thread 31 is alsoincreased coronally.

Both threads can be also tapered. In this embodiment the line 23connecting the tips of the first thread 30 is not parallel to the longaxis 9 of the implant as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The threads aretapered and at the same time become higher apically because the core ofthe implant is more tapered than the threads. Lines 25 in FIG. 5 areconnecting the upper regions of the core segments below the firstthread. Lines 25 in FIG. 5 are more tapered than lines 23 connecting thetips of the first thread. In one preferred embodiment the tips of boththreads are substantially along the same tapered line 23 as illustratedin FIG. 4. In another preferred embodiment the first thread 30 is moretapered than the second thread 31. In other wards the line connectingthe tips of the first thread is more tapered than line connecting thetips of the second threads. In another embodiment the line connectingthe thread tips of the first thread 30 is tapered and the lineconnecting the tips of the second thread 31 is parallel to the long axis9 of the implant.

In another preferred embodiment the first thread 30 is less tapered thanthe second thread 31. In other wards the line connecting the tips of thefirst thread is less tapered than line connecting the tips of the secondthreads. In another embodiment the line connecting the thread tips ofthe second thread 31 is tapered and the line connecting the tips of thefirst thread 30 is parallel to the long axis 9 of the implant.

Therefore along at least part of the implant the angle between the lineconnecting the tips of the first thread 30 and the long axis of theimplant 9 can be larger or equal or smaller than the angle between theline connecting the tips of the second thread 31 and the long axis ofthe implant 9.

In most of these embodiments it is preferred that the most apical regionis more tapered than the rest of the implant as illustrated in FIG. 5.Lines 27 connecting the tips of the threads at the apical region aremore tapered than lines 23 connecting the tips of the threads at thecoronal region. This enlarged tapering of the most apical region can beapplied for the core alone or/and to one of the threads or/and to boththreads or/and to the core and both threads which is the preferredembodiment. The length of this most apical region can be 2-5 mm or even3-4 mm. The fact that the width of the apical region of the implant issmaller than the coronal region allows the use of a small diameter drilltherefore preserving the bone. The sharp apical threads enter the smallhole in the bone and start cutting the bone. The next thread is wider inthe coronal apical direction and the implant is wider causingcompression of the bone but since the horizontal length of the thread isless than the previous thread the thread stays in the path created inthe bone by the previous thread therefore preventing slipping of theimplant to a region with even lower density bone. The fact that thehorizontal length of the threads become smaller as going coronallyallows for gradual compression of the bone and facilitate insertion.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 5 the coronal region is less tapered than the more apical region ofthe implant. In this embodiment the implant can have three differentregions having different tapering, the most apical region is the mosttapered to allow insertion through small osteotomy. The middle region ofthe implant is slightly tapered to condense the bone and the coronalregion is less tapered to reduce the compression from the cortical bone.The coronal region in another preferred embodiment can be parallel oreven inversed tapered.

The shape of the core of a standard implant can be seen in segments 10in the spaces between the threads in cross-sectional view FIG. 2. Whenconnecting the outer border of these segments two straight lines 8 areformed as illustrated in FIG. 2. This configuration can cause strongresistance for insertion. In one embodiment of the present invention theresistance for insertion is reduced while improving the stability of theimplant. In one preferred embodiment when continuing the lines of theouter borders of the core segments more than two lines are formed. Theselines can be non-parallel or/and parallel lines 40 as illustrated inFIG. 3. In another preferred embodiment the lines continuing the outerborder of the core segments below the condensing first thread 30 areforming parallel lines 40 and the lines continuing the outer border ofthe core segments below the sharp second thread 31 are forming otherparallel lines 41. In some preferred embodiments the lines 40 below thecondensing first thread 30 are more tapered than the lines 41 below thesharp second threads 31 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Therefore two threadunits are in this embodiment. A condensing unit having a condensingfirst thread 30 and/or a condensing tapered core below the first threadand a cutting unit having a sharp second thread 31 and/or a lesscondensing core below the sharp second thread. In another preferredembodiment the more tapered core is located below the sharp threads 31.The location and degree of the tapering of the condensing core can beadjusted to the bone density. This configuration enables gradualcondensation since the diameter of the lower aspect of each segment isclose to the upper diameter of the previous apical segment below thesame thread. This gradual condensation of the core allows for easyinsertion of the implant without loosing the final condensation andstability since the difference in the diameter between two core segmentsbelow the same thread is the same as for a regular implant like theimplant in FIG. 2. The final condensation is even larger since the corecondenses the bone like a more tapered core. The angle between the lines40 of the core segments in FIG. 3 of the novel implant and the long axis9 of the implant in one embodiment are greater than the angle betweenthe lines 8 of the regular tapered implant of FIG. 2 and the long axis 9of the implant or/and the angle between the lines 25 in FIG. 5connecting the core segments and the long axis 9 of the implant. Theimplant of FIG. 3 is tapered like the implant of FIG. 2. (the anglebetween lines 8, or the angle between lines 25 in FIG. 5) but condensesthe bone like a more tapered implant (the angle between lines 40) andthe condensation is gradually to facilitate insertion.

The lines 40 and 41 of FIG. 3 which are the continuation of the borderof the core segments are parallel and straight. This is one embodiment,but there are other shapes of the border of the core segments that canfunction similarly or even better. We can examine this character of thecore of the implant for example in FIG. 6 that illustrates a dentalimplant with a rounded border of the core segment. By continuing theborder of a core segment 60 positioned coronaly to a thread 62 throughthe thread 62 by imaginary line 63. If the imaginary line enters insidethe core segment 64 apically to the thread 62 it will function the sameto allow gradual condensation, but the condensation is strong only onthe upper region of the core border. The preferred embodiment withstraight border lines as illustrated in FIG. 3 allows for gradualcondensation along all the border so the insertion is smoother.

The combination of a gradual tapered compressing core as described abovewith a gradual compressing tapered thread as described above enables aneasy insertion.

In one embodiment of the present invention along the core of the implantthere is at least one micro-thread. FIG. 7 illustrates a preferredembodiment with two micro-threads. The horizontal length and/or thevertical height of the micro-threads 70 is about 0.03-0.4 mm or/and0.1-0.2 mm. The presence of micro threads along the core of the implantincreases the surface of the implant and increases the penetrability ofthe implant. The resistance for insertion is reduced while improving thestability of the implant. In one preferred embodiment when connectingthe tips of these micro threads one or more non-parallel lines areformed. In another preferred embodiment the line connecting the tips ofthe micro-threads along the core segments below the condensing firstthread 30 are forming one or more parallel lines and the line connectingthe tips of the micro-threads along the core segments below the sharpsecond thread 31 are forming other one or more parallel lines. In somepreferred embodiments the one or more lines connecting the tips of themicro threads along the core segments below the condensing first thread30 are more tapered than the one or more lines connecting the tips ofthe micro-threads along the core segments below the sharp second thread31. In some preferred embodiments the one or more lines connecting thetips of the micro threads along the core segments below the condensingfirst thread 30 are less tapered than the one or more lines connectingthe tips of the micro-threads along the core segments below the sharpsecond thread 31. Therefore two thread units are in this embodiment. Acondensing unit having a condensing first thread 30 and/or a condensingtapered core with tapered micro threads below the first thread and acutting unit having a sharp second thread 31 and/or a less condensingcore with less tapered micro threads below the second thread. In anotherpreferred embodiment the more tapered core with the micro threads islocated below the sharp threads 31. In another preferred embodimentillustrated in FIG. 7 the micro-threads below the first thread can bealong one line, at least along part of the implant and/or themicro-threads below the second thread can be along one other line, atleast along part of the implant. It is also possible that all the tipsof the micro threads below the first and second threads will be alongthe same line.

In the embodiments with the micro-threads the profile of eachmicro-thread can be different. For example the lower micro-thread 82 canbe sharp and the upper micro-thread 81 can be rounded or/and less sharpas illustrated in FIG. 8. In another preferred embodiment the uppermicro-thread is sharper. In another preferred embodiment themicro-threads below the second thread are sharp and the micro-threadsbelow the first thread are rounded or/and less sharp. The micro threadscan be variable threads and all the properties and differences describedabove for the first and second threads can be also implemented in themicro-threads and all the combinations of different micro-threads can beused.

In another preferred embodiment the number of micro threads below thefirst thread can be different from the number of micro-threads below thesecond thread along at least part of the implant. For example the corebelow the condensing first thread can have three micro-threads and thecore below the cutting second thread can have two micro-threads. Theproperties of each micro-thread below the first thread can be differentfrom the properties of each micro-thread below the second thread. Thepresence of several micro-threads is creating several micro helicalslots between the micro-threads which are known to facilitate the bonegrowth around the implant.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 the implant has six threads. Afirst variable thread and two micro-threads below it and a secondvariable thread and two other micro-threads below it. Since in someembodiments at least along part of the implant the first and secondthreads are horizontally long at the apical region a large differenceexist between the horizontal length of the threads and the horizontallength of the micro-threads. The threads at least in the apical regioncan be 10-20 times longer in the horizontal dimension than themicro-threads. The threads can also be 3-8 times longer than themicro-threads or 4-7 times longer. The large difference between thethreads and the micro-threads along the apical region function insynergistic action to facilitate the insertion. The sharp threads arecutting the bone and the large space between the threads allow for theaggregation of small bone particles. The micro-threads are cutting theirway between these bone particles so the core is not just compressing thebone it is also cutting the bone to facilitate the insertion. Theembodiment of the core with micro-threads is therefore suitable for softbone because of its tapering and compressive properties but is alsosuitable for dense bone since it is also cutting. The huge space betweenthe threads enables the proliferation of vascular tissue andregeneration of bone tissue. This feature is advantageous in dense bonewhere the regenerative capability is reduced.

In most of the embodiments the thread step of the various threads can besubstantial the sane. In order to increase the stability of the implantin soft bone it is also possible to use several thread steps for thefirst or/and the second threads or/and the micro-threads. It is alsopossible to use at least in some of the threads at least along a portionof the threads a variable thread step. The thread step can increasegradually in the apical direction or in the coronal direction. Changesin the thread step are advantageous in soft bone.

The most apical region of the implant can have two preferredconfigurations. One is a smooth rounded design, this design is suitablefor cases that the implant is near the Schneiderian membrane of themaxillary sinus or near the mandibular nerve in order to prevent damageto these delicate tissues. In this design the threads start with adistance from the apical end. In another preferred embodiment of theapex of the implant illustrated in FIG. 9 there are sharp blades thatcut the bone and allow easy insertion. There are several variations forthe shape of the blades, which are well known in the dental implantfield. Implants with this apical design are called self drillingimplants. FIG. 9 is an apical view of one embodiment. It can be seen inthis embodiment that the diameter of blades are enlarged as goingcoronally since the apical region is tapered.

The bone tap of the implant influence the insertion. A\tap is also knownin the name of a flute and it means a slot in the apical region. Thepresence of a bone tap allows the insertion of the implant withoutprevious taping of the bone. Implants with a tap are called self tappingimplants. The tap can be straight or/and oblique or/and spiral. Onepreferred design is the spiral bone tap to facilitate insertion. In oneembodiment the tap 66 as illustrated in FIG. 7 is long and going throughmore than a third of the length of the implant crossing several threads.The tap can extend along more than a half of the implant. In anotherembodiment the tap is not straight but surrounding the implant. The tapstarts at one side of the implant FIG. 7 and extends to the other side.In some preferred embodiments the whole tap can't be seen from oneplace. This design of the tap facilitate insertion so when the implantis inserted only part of one thread is cutting the bone therefore theresistance for insertion is lower. This configuration together with thedesign of the thread as described above also dictates that the implantwill stay in its original path of insertion by forcing the next threadto go into the slot in the bone prepared by the previous thread. Thisfeature is enhanced by the presence of a double thread.

The implant can have more than one tap. In one preferred embodiment withmore than one tap the taps are different. In all the implants in themarket if they include more than one tap the two taps are identical. Insome preferred embodiments of the present invention at least along partof one tap the tap is a cutting tap and at least along part of anothertap the tap is a condensing tap. Almost all the implants in the markethave a cutting tap meaning the angle between the right side 190 of thetap and the external surface of the implant is less than 90 degrees orequal 90 degrees and the angle between the left side 191 of the tap andthe external surface of the implant is more than 90 degrees asillustrated in FIG. 10. The external surface of the implant can includethe core or/and the threads. In this configuration when the implant isinserted and rotated clockwise the tap is cutting the bone to facilitateinsertion. In a condensing tap the angle between the right side 192 ofthe tap and the external surface of the implant is more than 90 degreesand the angle between the left side 193 of the tap and the externalsurface of the implant is less than 90 degrees or equal 90 degrees asillustrated in FIG. 11A. The external surface of the implant can includethe core or/and the threads. In this configuration when the implant isinserted and rotated clockwise the tap is condensing the bone to improvethe stability of the implant. If the bone is denser sometimes it becomesdifficult to insert an implant with condensing taps. In this situationwhen rotating the implant backwards 2-3 turns the condensing tap becomesa cutting tap which cuts the bone, so afterwards when rotating theimplant forward again the insertion is easy. An implant with cuttingtaps is more suitable for dense bone, an implant with condensing taps ismore suitable for soft bone. In some of the embodiments of the presentinvention the implant has a synergistic combination of a condensing tapand a cutting tap. In this configuration the implant is suitable for allbone types. The cutting tap is cutting the bone to facilitate insertionand the condensing tap is condensing the bone to improve the stabilityof the implant. In case the insertion is still difficult then byrotating the implant counter-clockwise 2-3 turns the condensing tap willcut the bone so afterwards it will be easy to insert the implant.Actually the two opposite bone taps are working together to allow easyinsertion and good stability in all bone types by using basically thesame drilling protocol. FIG. 11B is illustrating a horizontal sectionalview through the apical segment of an embodiment of an implant having acutting tap and a condensing tap like the taps illustrated in FIGS. 10and 11A. The cutting tap can be cutting inside the bone and creatingsmall slots and small bone particles and then the condensing tap cancompress these small bone protrusions and bone particles to increase thestability of the implant. The cutting tap is preparing the site for thecompressing tap so the final result is a compress bone achieved easilywith less torque and minimal trauma to the bone.

In one preferred embodiment the condensing tap as illustrated in FIG.11A has two planes or surfaces, one long plane 95 on the right side anda short plane 96 on the left side. The transition from the long plane tothe short plane can be sharp 97 or/and rounded. In another preferredembodiment the cutting tap has two planes or surfaces, one long plane 98on the left side and a short plane 99 on the right side. The transitionfrom the long plane to the short plane can be sharp or/and rounded. Thecondensing and cutting taps can also have more than two planes forexample FIG. 7 illustrates a condensing tap 66 with three planes. Theangle between the planes in most of the embodiments can be equal orsmaller than 90 degrees or/and larger than 90 degrees. In anotherembodiment at least part of the tap has rounded morphology instead ofstraight surfaces. The novel implant can have any combination of taps.For example, a cutting tap with two planes on one side of the implantand a condensing tap with three planes on the other side of the implant.

The taps can be tilted to the right side or/and to the left side of theimplant or substantially straight extending upwards from the apical parttowards the coronal part. In some preferred embodiments both taps arespiral tap which are tilted to the right side of the implant, like thetaps illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 11A.

The taps can have substantially a uniform width as advancing from theapex coronally. In another embodiment the width of at least one tap canbe increasing in the coronal direction along at lest part of the tapor/and the width of at least one tap can be decreasing in the coronaldirection along at lest part of the tap. In another preferred embodimentthe taps can be connected to form a continuous slot from one side of theimplant to the other side. There are several options to accomplish thisconnection of the taps. One option is that one tap is tilted to theright of the implant and the second tap is tilted to the left of theimplant so both taps are connected on one side of the implant. Anotheroption is that the apex of the implant has a slot 120 so the taps areconnected at the apex as illustrated in FIG. 12. In this embodiment thebone particles which are cut by the cutting tap can be advanced throughthe slot at the apex inside the condensing tap which will condense thesebone particles. Another option is that a slot is added to connect thetaps several mm above the apex.

In another embodiment the tap can change its function as it is advancecoronally. For example the tap can be cutting at its apical region andto become condensing at its coronal region. In another embodiment thetap can be condensing at its apical region and to become cutting at itscoronal region. In one preferred embodiment the implant can have on oneside a changing tap from cutting at the apex to condensing morecoronally and/or on the other side the implant can have a secondchanging tap from condensing at the apex to cutting more coronally. Inthis preferred embodiment the forces are more evenly distributed aroundthe implant and the insertion becomes smoother.

The taps can also include a region where the angles on both sides of thetap are blunt (condensing) or/and a region where the angles on bothsides of the tap are sharp (cutting). In some of the preferredembodiments at the same distance from the apex the tap on one side ofthe implant is condensing and the tap on the other side is cutting. Theimplant can have more than two taps. If there is more than one tap anycombination of taps and/or edge angles or/and planes can be at the samedistance from the apex.

The most coronal region of the implant also influences the insertion andstabilization of the implant. This region includes the interface region.There are several types of interfaces which may optionally includesplines, or/and a socket having a tapered region or/and a socket havinga plurality of sides, e.g. a hex socket. Also, the implant may includean external sharply tapered mechanical stop, but in a preferredembodiment instead includes a gradually tapered portion. The graduallytapered portion allows for more freedom in placement depth to adjust thevertical positioning of the implant in relation to the crestal bone.When an implant is sharply tapered its most coronal region becomes verybroad. This broad coronal is appropriate for regions with very lowdensity cortical bone since it compress the cortical bone. In cases thecortical bone is not very soft this can interfere with the insertion ofthe implant. There are also clinical evidences that when the coronalregion is broad the blood supply to the bone around the implant isdisturbed resulting in higher incidence of bone resorption and implantfailure. Therefore if the cortical bone is not very soft the diameter ofthe coronal region preferably can be as the diameter of the body of theimplant or/and at least partially less then the body of the implant. Themost coronal part of the coronal region can be at least partiallyinversed tapered 125 as illustrated in FIG. 13 or/and at least partiallyparallel with a diameter which is less than the diameter of the coronalregion just below this most coronal part.

The combination of two threads with a large thread step and at leastpartially inversed tapered coronal region can function in a synergisticmode to facilitate the insertion. The thread of the implant can have ahigh step. The most common implants has thread step of about 0.6 mm. Thepresent implant can have a thread step of 1.5-2.8 mm or about 2.0-2.5mm. The implant can have double thread meaning two threads withdifferent beginnings running along the implant. This configurationcauses that for every point of one thread there is a thread at theopposite side of the implant at the same vertical level. The threadswhen are inserted into the bone are creating slots. The two high stepthreads create two opposite steep slots in the bone for every bonesegment. These slots facilitate the insertion of the implant because thebone is easily expanded. The presence of two opposite steep slots in thebone that each one is created by a thread of more than 1.5 mm and evenof 2.0-2.5 mm thread step allows this expansion since this is usuallythe width of the cortical bone. A regular thread of 0.6 mm will createalmost horizontal slots in the bone resulting in crushing of the boneinstead of expansion. Because of the slots the bone is not crushed butelastically expanded The threads can begin at the wider area of thecoronally tapered region so when this wider area reaches the bone thebone has already two points in the bone having between themapproximately the diameter of this wide region so this wide region ispushing the bone at the other direction and the bone segments betweenthe slots are displaced from each other and come back to their originallocation after the wide region is inserted more inside the bone. Thesebone segments between the slots can relapse to their original locationbecause the coronal segment 125 is tapered coronally. This process willoccur for every point along the bone where the coronally tapered region125 is inserted inside the bone since this region is just above thebeginning of the threads. The end result is a tapered region inside thebone covered with bone. If the two threads are not the same, asexplained above, then on one side of the implant the first thread iscompressing the bone and on the other side the second thread is cuttingthe bone. In this embodiment the elastic expansion of the bone isenhanced and the insertion and elastic relapse of the bone are moreeasily achieved. In some preferred embodiments the threads continue overthe coronally tapered region. In this configuration the coronal regionis not a circle in horizontal cross section but resembles more anellipse since the double thread that extends along the coronally taperedregion reduce its diameter in one direction. This configurationfacilitates the insertion of the wide segment of the coronaly taperedcoronal region inside the bone because the longer diameter of thisellipse is inserted to the slots in the bone. The insertion of acoronally tapered region with more than one thread on it allows elasticexpansion of the bone and the bone is covering this tapered region afterinsertion inside the bone. The best results are achieved if the heightof the intra-bony coronally tapered region is close to the thread step.In one preferred embodiment the height of the intra-bony coronalytapered region is higher than a half of the thread step.

The coronal region can have several configurations. A coronally taperingcoronal region (becoming wider coronally) or/and an inversed taperedcoronal region or/and a parallel wall coronal region. In someembodiments of the novel implant the coronal region is not identical allaround. The coronal region can have parallel walls (127 in FIG. 8,parallel to the long axis of the implant) at one aspect, for example itsbuccal and/or palatal aspects and inversed tapered coronal region 128 ata second aspect for example its mesial and distal aspects as illustratedin FIG. 8. With this configuration the implant is suitable for soft bonebecause of its parallel aspect and for dense bone because of itsinversed tapered aspect. The dentist can decide where to position theparallel aspect and where to position the inversed tapered aspect. Ifthe alveolar ridge is narrow it is recommended to position the inversedtapered region facing the buccal aspect and/or the palatal aspect. Ifthe mesio-distal dimension is limited it is recommended to place theinversed tapered region facing the mesio aspect and/or distal aspect.When the width of the coronal edge is not identical all around thedentist can decide to position the wider aspect of the coronal edgetowards the direction of the forces. For example if the implant isinserted in angulation to the plane of chewing the wider edge (forexample the aspect with the parallel wall) is more recommended to beplaced along the plane of the angulation. With this configuration across section of the coronal region perpendicular to the long axis ofthe implant is creating for example an elliptic outline instead of around outline. The novel coronal region can have different tapering atdifferent aspects of the coronal region. For example to have a parallelwall (parallel to the longitudinal axis of the implant) on one aspect, acoronally tapered region on another aspect and an inversed taperedregion in another aspect of the coronal region. The distribution ofdifferent tapering around the coronal region can be different atdifferent vertical heights along the coronal region. The coronal regioncan start with a strong tapering and than to change to a more moderatetapering.

In another preferred embodiment the threads can be along at least partof the coronally tapered region. The threads on the coronally taperedregion can be the same as the threads along the implant but in anotherpreferred embodiment can be smaller in the thread step and/or the threadhorizontal length and or vertical height. The presence of a small threador micro-thread in this region can allow better distribution of theforces to the cortical bone.

In another preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 the most coronalpart 145 can be parallel with one diameter which can be smaller than thediameter of the coronal region 146 just below this most coronal part145. The transition between the most coronal part 145 to the coronalregion 146 just below the most coronal part can be sharp or/and rounded.In a preferred embodiment the narrower most coronal part 145 beginsabove a micro slot 147. The most coronal part 145 can have also at leastone micro slot 148 as illustrated in FIG. 15. A parallel walled narrowcoronal part 145 as illustrated in FIG. 14 leaves more space for thebone compared to a continuous coronal region (5 in FIG. 1) which iswider. A parallel walled narrow coronal part 145 as illustrated in FIG.14 leaves also more space for the bone compared to a coronally taperedcoronal region 125 in FIG. 13 which is wider in its lower part 185. Ifthere is more space for the bone the blood supply for the bone and theperiosteal tissue in improved and therefore the risk of bone resorptionis reduced.

The coronal region in most of the embodiments can have micro slots.These slots can be circular along the same horizontal plane or to bealong several vertical heights in a wave form. In one preferredembodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 the coronal region can includes one ormore micro circular slots 110 which are like rings and not threads. Inthis embodiment the bone implant connection is enhanced with circularfibers entering these slots.

The implant can include internal threads 130 for connection to theprosthetic part as illustrated in FIG. 6. The implant can includeseveral sockets having a plurality of sides, e.g. a small hex 132 belowa larger hex 133. The hexes can be aligned with their sides or notaligned to increase the options for the insertion of a prostheticelement. It is also possible to connect a prosthetic element 140 with adownwards tapering anti-rotational element 142 illustrated in FIGS. 6and 6A. The downwards tapering anti-rotational element can have severalsides for example an external hexagon to match the hexagon inside theimplant. The downwards tapering anti-rotational element is touching theupper region of both hexes 132, 133 and therefore the rotation isprevented. This design allows the insertion of prosthetic elementsdirectly inside angulated implant without the need for additionalabutments. FIGS. 6 and 6A are illustrating the use of two hexes, but anycombination of the number of sides can be used for example a hexagon anda 12 sides element or/and octagon above it etc.

In case the bone is very narrow the core can be also very narrow. Whenthe core is very narrow it can't include internal threads, so theimplant can come in one piece with an abutment. In these embodiments thecoronal supragingival part serves for insertion of the implant and alsoas an abutment to support the future prosthetics. FIG. 16 illustratessuch an embodiment with a narrow parallel region 160 between the part ofthe implant that is to be inside the bone 161 and the abutment part 162which can be tapered to allow connection to a prosthetic element like acrown. The narrow region 160 allows good attachment of the gums to theimplant therefore prevents bone loss. The narrow region can also becoronally tapered and/or can be inserted at least partially inside thebone. The abutment region 162 can include an internal anti-rotationalelement or external anti-rotational element 164 that will serve for theinsertion of the implant. The abutment region 162 can include internalor/and external threads for the connection to other prostheticcomponents.

In another preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17 the narrow region160 below the tapered prosthetic region 162 can include a micro-slot170. This slot can function for several purposes:

1) To enhance the attachment of the soft tissue if this region is abovethe bone since circular fibers from the gums will regenerate inside theslot 170.

2) To enhance the bone regeneration if this region is inserted insidethe bone.

3) To allow the connection of a mount that will serve for the deliveryof the implant. The mount can be elastic and to be connected in a“click” to the micro-slot. In one preferred embodiment the micro-slot170 is up to 1 mm above the wide region 180 of the implant and it isinserted inside the bone or very close to the bone so this slot will beinside bone or/and the gums and will not interfere in the prostheticprocedure.

In some other preferred embodiment the implant can be made from morethan one part. For example the apical part of the implant and thecoronal part of the implant can be different components that can beattached to each other and/or detached from each other. The apicalcomponent can include some of the features described above, for examplethe tapered core, the double variable threads, the tapered apicalregion, and the condensing o/and the condensing taps etc. The separatecoronal component can include also some of the features of the coronalregion described above, for example to have micro-slots, to be inversedtapered, to have an anti-rotational socket or protrusion for theattachment of a prosthetic component etc. The connection between the twocomponents can be by friction or/and screwing the coronal componentinside the apical component or/and by a screw connecting the twocomponents. In a preferred embodiment the two components are attachedalso with a sealing material to prevent the colonization of bacteria inthe micro-gap between the components and the penetration of moleculesor/and bacteria from the oral cavity inside the bone through themicro-gap between the coronal component to the apical component. In apreferred embodiment the coronal component is inversed tapered or narrowthan the apical component so the connection and disconnection of the twocomponents becomes easy and the connection line can be visualized by thedentist.

In operation, the implant can be placed into a pre-drilled osteotomysite that either matches the external diameter of the implant body, thatis, the narrowest diameter between threads, or into a site that isnarrower than the external diameter of the implant. Placing the implantinto a narrower site will provide additional bone compression, andtherefore greater initial stability. The design of the novel implant caninduce bone expansion if the diameter of the drill is less than thediameter of the implant. The drill can be straight or tapered and thediameter is dictated by the density of the bone. For soft bone the lastdrill has small diameter and even insertion can be done withoutdrilling. In dense bone a wider drill can be used and the spaces betweenthe bone and the core of the implant will be filled with blood vesselswhile the implant is stabilized by the high threads.

In most of the preferred embodiments demonstrating an anti-rotationalelement on the implant there is also included a compatibleanti-rotational element on the abutment. The number of the protrusionsor slots or angles of the anti-rotational element don't have to be thesame for the implant and the abutment as long as the abutment can beseated on the implant and rotation is prevented.

The implants of the present invention can be connected to any elementwhich is protruding through the gums to the oral cavity. All theabutments and/or prosthetic elements described above can come indifferent heights, different widths and different angles and to beseated at different heights from the bone level. They also can havedifferent heights and widths of the subgingival part and differentheights and widths of the supragingival part. The prosthetic elementscan include for example abutment for cementation or/and for crewedrestorations in various lengths, angulations, morphologies and/orfinishing lines. The prosthetic elements can include ball attachments,dolder-bars, crowns, bridges, various denture attachments and impressioncomponents.

All the embodiments of implants or/and abutments of the presentinvention can have several surfaces. The implant can have machinesurface but can have rough surface like TiUnite, S.L.A, Osscotite,Ilydroxyapatite or bioactive surface that has growth factors and activeproteins like B.M.P. The rough surface can be along at least part of theintra-bony part of the implant and can be also extending to the narrowregion 160 of the implants in FIGS. 16 and/or 17.

All the embodiments of implants or/and abutments of the presentinvention can be made from any biocompatible material like titanium inits various grades, titanium alloy, zirconium and any polymeric materiallike the biocompatible polymers which are used in orthopedics forfixation, implants, and/or artificial joints.

In the embodiments of the present invention the implants can be suppliedalready connected to a mount or the mount is to be connected by thedentist.

As a result, some of the above embodiments provide unique advantages byproviding a dental implant fixture which is suited for use in lowerdensity bone, regular density bone and/or dense bone. In some of theembodiments the implant features a tapered profile and a unique externalthread profile that offers superior stability when it is implanted inlow density bone while insertion is easy. The implant tapers down indiameter optionally beginning at a point about 1-3 mm from below the topsurface of the implant and/or tapering more at it apical region. Theexternal thread can be also tapered and changing profile from thecoronal to the apical ends of the implant fixture, having a sharp,narrow and high profile at the apical end, suited for cutting intonon-tapped bone, and having a broad or/and rounded or/and low profile atthe coronal end, suited for compression of bone tapped by the thread atthe apical end. Further, the thread profile optionally has a flat shelfon its apical aspect, being most pronounced at the coronal end of theimplant and being less pronounced at the apical end of the implant. Atits coronal end, the implant has an optional flared region that acts asa mechanical stop, serving to limit over-insertion of the implant intosoft bone or/and parallel walls or/and being inversed tapered. At itsapical end, the implant optionally has a round, blunt shape and aset-back thread in the event the implant comes in advertent contact withnon-osseous structures or can have blades to facilitate the cuttinginside the bone. The implant can be of one piece and have coronallyconverging intra-bony region near the coronal cortical bone.

The implant can have a synergistic combination of a cutting tap with acondensing tap to facilitate the insertion in all bone types.

The combination of each couple of the aspect described above: thecoronal region, the core, the threads, the taps and the apical regionallows to produce an implant that is easily inserted although thedrilling is minimal, to easily dictate the location of the implant, toallow good stabilization in the bone and to allow the bone to be abovethe intra-bony coronally tapered region. The presence of bone above thisregion supports the gums and maintains their desired configurationespecially the height of the gums between the teeth called papilla,which are very important for the esthetic result. This bone is preservedsince the implant allows drilling with a small diameter drill and thecore is tapered and the threads are tapered with variable thread designand the coronal region can be inversed tapered or/and parallel narrow.The combination of all the features and the relationship between themcan lead to an implant that allows the best esthetic result in all bonetypes.

Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a widerange of modification change and substitution is contemplated in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theembodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of theembodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dental implant comprising: a body having acoronal part and an apical part that are continuous with one another,said apical part has a core and at least two external threads having athread pitch of at least 1.5 mm extending along said core, said coronalpart being located coronally to said at least two external threads, atleast part of said coronal part being an intra-bony coronal part, anexternal surface of said intra-bony coronal part and an external surfaceof said apical part are both being a rough external surface configuredto be in contact with bone, said coronal part has an internal cavity forreceiving a prosthetic element, said coronal part has a tapered socketbecoming narrower apically, apically to said tapered socket of saidinternal cavity said dental implant has a first non-circular socket,apically to said first non-circular socket said dental implant has asecond non-circular socket, apically to said second non-circular socketsaid dental implant has an internal thread, said prosthetic elementbeing fixated to said dental implant, said prosthetic element has anon-circular protrusion, said non-circular protrusion of said prostheticelement engages at least part of said first non-circular socket and atleast part of said second non-circular socket.
 2. The dental implant ofclaim 1, wherein at least part of said coronal part that surrounds saidfirst non-circular socket has a cylindrical segment having externalwalls which are parallel to a central longitudinal axis of said dentalimplant, said cylindrical segment has at least one external slot.
 3. Thedental implant of claim 2, wherein an overall external diameter of saidcylindrical segment being smaller than an overall external diameter ofsaid body.
 4. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein a most coronalsegment of the coronal part being tapered coronally forming narrowercoronal edge.
 5. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein said prostheticelement engages said tapered socket.
 6. The dental implant of claim 1,wherein said prosthetic element being selected from the group consistingof: abutment for cementation, abutment for screwed restoration,temporary abutment, dolder-bar, ball-attachment, connector, locator,crown, bridge, impression coping, healing cap, and any combinationthereof.
 7. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein said firstnon-circular socket have several sides and said second non-circularsocket has several sides, at least part of said sides of said firstnon-circular socket being aligned with said sides of said secondnon-circular socket so said prosthetic element can be connected to saiddental implant in exactly six positions.
 8. The dental implant of claim1, wherein part of said coronal part being an outside-bone coronal partconfigured to be outside said bone to engage the gums, said outside-bonecoronal part being one-piece with said dental implant.
 9. The dentalimplant of claim 8, wherein said outside-bone coronal part has adjacentsaid bone a narrow segment, which is narrower than said body, and acoronally tapered region to be connected to said prosthetic element. 10.The dental implant of claim 9, wherein said intra-bony coronal part hasat least one external slot that has a wave form.
 11. The dental implantof claim 10, wherein said intra-bony coronal part has an internal threadfor the connection to said prosthetic element.
 12. The dental implant ofclaim 1, wherein said rough external surface being S.L.A surface, anapex of said dental implant being rounded, at least one of said twoexternal threads has an apical side and a coronal side, an angle in anapical-coronal cross-section between said apical side of said at leastone of said two external threads and said corona side of said at leastone of said two external threads being 25 degrees.
 13. The dentalimplant of claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two externalthreads has a thread segment having an apical side that has several flatregions so in an apical-coronal cross-section one of said several flatregions of said apical side of said thread segment has a non 90 degreesangle with a central longitudinal axis of said dental implant, twoadditional flat regions of said several flat regions of said apical sideof said thread segment have in said apical-coronal cross-section acombination of more than one angle with said central longitudinal axisof said dental implant.
 14. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein saidat least two external threads have a thread pitch of 2.0-2.5 or 2.8 mm,said coronal part being coronally to said at least two external threads,at least one of said two external threads has an apical side, a coronalside, a lateral edge connecting said apical side and said coronal side,a thread angle defined between said apical side and said coronal side,said thread angle being increased coronally along at least part of saidfirst external thread, said dental implant has at least two taps thatextend from an apical end of said apical part to said coronal part whilecrossing said at least two external threads, along at least part of saidapical part a distance between a middle of said lateral edge ofsuccessive thread turns of said at least two external threads in anapical-coronal cross-section being increased apically.
 15. The dentalimplant of claim 1, wherein said intra-bony coronal part has at leastone external slot that has a wave form.
 16. The dental implant of claim1, wherein said at least two external threads have a thread pitch of2.0-2.5 or 2.8 mm, said apical part has a most apical region of saidapical part, a middle region of said dental implant connecting said mostapical region of said apical part and said coronal part of said dentalimplant, said intra-bony coronal part has at least one external slotalong external walls of said intra-bony coronal part, said externalwalls of said intra-bony coronal part are parallel to a centrallongitudinal axis of said dental implant, an overall external diameterof said intra-bony coronal part being smaller than an overall externaldiameter of said apical part, one of said at least two external threadshas lateral tips, which are not crossed by at least one of said taps,middle straight imaginary lines connecting all said lateral tips on bothsides of an apical-coronal cross-section along said middle region ofsaid dental implant have a first apically tapering angle, apicalstraight imaginary lines connecting all said lateral tips on both sidesof said apical-coronal cross-section along said most apical region ofsaid apical part have a second apically tapering angle, said secondapically tapering angle being larger than said first apically taperingangle.
 17. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein said coronal part hasa coronal region and a most coronal part, said most coronal part of saidcoronal part extends coronally from said coronal region of said coronalpart to a coronal edge of said coronal part, said most coronal part ofsaid coronal part has a cylindrical segment with one external diameterthat extends coronally from said coronal region of said coronal part andbeing parallel to a central longitudinal axis of said dental implant,said external diameter of said cylindrical segment of said most coronalpart of said coronal part being smaller than an external diameter ofsaid coronal region of said coronal part just apically to said mostcoronal part of said coronal part, said coronal region of said coronalpart has at least two external slots, said most coronal part of saidcoronal part consists of said cylindrical segment of said most coronalpart of said coronal part and a most coronal segment, an externalsurface of said most coronal segment of said most coronal part of saidcoronal part being tapered coronally forming said coronal edge of saidcoronal part.
 18. The dental implant of claim 1, wherein said core hasin an apical-coronal cross-section core segments outside said taps andbetween said at least two external threads, lateral borders of said coresegments being rounded as extending apically from one of said at leasttwo external threads and continue apically in straight lines in saidapical-coronal cross-section, said straight lines of said lateralborders of said core segments being parallel, said coronal part has atleast part of an external coronal micro-thread, a thread profile of saidat least part of said external coronal micro-thread being different thana thread profile of said at least two external threads.
 19. The dentalimplant of claim 1, wherein an apical-coronal dimension of a lateral tipof said first external thread being progressively expanded along saidapical segment of said apical part in the direction of said coronalpart, said second external thread being a uniform thread.
 20. The dentalimplant of claim 1, wherein said dental implant has more than twoexternal threads along said apical part, said dental implant has morethan two taps that extend from an apical end of said apical part to saidcoronal part while crossing said more than two external threads.